Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and his officials for attending. I also thank the Minister for providing the committee with a briefing in advance of the Council meeting in respect of what will be on the agenda. I must inform him that I will be obliged to leave for the Dáil in a few moments.

Will the Minister indicate the number of meetings that were held during Ireland's Presidency and outline the issues discussed at them? Will he comment on our performance in the context of internationalisation? The uptake in this regard is lower than in other countries. The language barrier cannot be cited because this applies elsewhere. Will the Minister indicate how the position in this regard might be improved? I am aware a great deal of work is being done in the context of the report relating to this matter at present. Will the Minister comment on those from Ireland who study their entire courses abroad? The latter has become more prevalent in recent times. Students who cannot obtain entry to particular courses here go to other countries to pursue such courses. As a result of the fact that they are entitled to avail of the same terms and conditions as their counterparts in those countries, they are often obliged to pay less for their preferred courses than would be the case here.

At our previous meeting, the subject of the VAT charged on electronic schoolbooks, or e-books, arose. At present, VAT is charged on such electronic versions of schoolbooks but it is not charged on printed versions. Reference was made to the fact that a difficulty exists in this regard in the European context. Will the Minister comment on the position in this regard?